A Guide to Nudism and Nude Beaches in Finland

Nudism is common in Finland. You can practice it at the country's many saunas, but if you prefer the outdoors, you have several beaches where you can get naked while enjoying the sun and the water. Plan to visit Finland's nudist beaches during the summer months when the water is warm enough to bathe naked and check the weather in Finland before you go.

Pihlajasaari Beach

Pihlajasaari Beach is less than two miles south of Helsinki's city center.

Pihlajasaari used to be dotted with villas, but it is now an outdoor recreation area. It still has a few old cozy villas nestled amid rocks, wooded areas, and beaches. The area's hilly terrain, convenient location, and available services have made Pihlajasaari one the most popular summer spots in Helsinki.

Pihlajasaari is actually two islands—a western and eastern island—connected by a bridge. The area offers a unisex nudist beach as well as three cooking shelters, a sauna, bathrooms, a kiosk, cafe, an eatery called Restaurant Pihlajasaari, and even jogging tracks. The nudist beach, which Finns refer to as a "naturist" beach, is actually on the eastern island; it's great for sunbathing but too rocky for swimming.

Seurasaari Beach

Seurasaari nude beach, which is just south of Helsinki, is on Seurasaari island. The Seurasaari nude beach is not unisex; it is divided into one section for men and another for women.

Seurasaari Island is a public park and also offers a large open-air museum. To get to Seurasaari, take a 15-minute bus ride from downtown Helsinki, then walk across a picturesque bridge to this "113-acre forest of birches and pines floating in the Baltic Sea," according to the "Boston Globe," or take a short boat ride to the island.

Note that you can't get nude in all areas of the island, and on certain days, clothing is required.

Yyteri Beach

Yyteri Beach, on Finland's west coast, offers sand, sun, surfing, golfing, and volleyball. The beach is located just outside the town of Pori, and there's a direct bus from the city center to the beach. Pori is 1.5 hours east of Tampere or two hours north of Turku. This unisex beach is a great destination for nudists—a top Finnish spot for swimming and sunbathing naked.

Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall

In the center of Helsinki, bathing suits are optional at Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall. Note that there are separate swim times for women and men. The swimming pool, which opened in 1928, was for decades Finland’s only public swimming pool. The stately and ornate facility has an Olympic feel so you can doff your clothes and swim nude in style.